Editing French Defence (section)

=====Steinitz Variation: 4.e5 <span class="anchor" id="Steinitz Variation"></span>=====
{{Chess diagram 
| tright
|
|rd|nd|bd|qd|kd|bd|  |rd
|pd|pd|pd|nd|  |pd|pd|pd
|  |  |  |  |pd|  |  |
|  |  |  |pd|pl|  |  |
|  |  |  |pl|  |  |  |
|  |  |nl|  |  |  |  |
|pl|pl|pl|  |  |pl|pl|pl
|rl|  |bl|ql|kl|bl|nl|rl
|Steinitz Variation after 4.e5 Nfd7
}}
Named after [[Wilhelm Steinitz]], the Steinitz Variation continues with 4.e5 Nfd7. Here 5.Nce2, the [[Alexei Shirov|Shirov]]–[[Viswanathan Anand|Anand]] Variation, prepares to bolster the white pawn centre with c2–c3 and f2–f4; while 5.Nf3 transposes to a position also reached via the Two Knights Variation (2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.d4). The main line of the Steinitz is 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3. (Instead 7.Ne2 transposes to the Shirov–Anand Variation, while 7.Be2{{chesspunc|?}} cxd4 8.Nxd4 Ndxe5! 9.fxe5 Qh4+ wins a pawn for Black.) Here Black may step up the pressure on d4 by playing 7...Qb6 or 7...cxd4 8.Nxd4 Qb6, begin queenside play with 7...a6 8.Qd2 b5, or continue kingside development by playing 7...Be7 or 7...cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bc5. Another side-line for 7...cxd4 is 8.Nxd4 Bc5 9. Qd2 Bxd4 10.Bxd4 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Qb6 12.Qxb6 Nxb6, This line has been referred to as the Vacuum Cleaner Variation.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sterran |title=Fundamental Chess Openings |publisher=Gambit Publications |isbn=9781906454135}}</ref> In these lines, White has the option of playing either Qd2 and 0-0-0, or Be2 and 0-0, with the former typically leading to {{chessgloss|sharper}} positions due to opposite-side castling when Black castles kingside in both cases.
{{Clear}}